Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-03-18
RniIrond Commissioners, Reports.

The board of railroad commissioners have
investigated and made reports ON two rail
road accidents which have occurred since
the White River disaster The first of
these was ON the death of Elw W. South
worth a freight conductor ON the Passump-
sic road, who fell from his train and his
body was cut in two at White River June
ton IN the 23d OF February. The finding
Of the commissioners is that the accident
was the result of some loss Of grip upon
the ladder, as Conductor Southworth was
going down to, or climbing up from a coal
car, or by slipping upon the snow or ice at
one end Of it, whereby he fell between the
cars, was drawn under the wheels and kill
ed. There is no fault attributable to any
one for the fatal accident"
The other investigation and report is on
the matter Of the collision on the Central
Vermont road, Feb Is, between Mortified
and Montpelier Junction The trains were
passenger No. 81 bound north and freight
No. bound south The accident occurred
because Engineer Ward Of the freight train
left Montpelier Junction without orders and
went ON south, leaving his conductor at the
station, and running ON time which belonged
to the passenger train coming in the oppo-
site direction. This collision caused the
wreck of the two locomotives and a bag
gage car, broke in the end of one passenger
car, wrecked freight car and load Of live
hogs-kiling six or eight Of them, and in
jured though not seriously, Baggage master
Henry C. Moody.
The essential part of the finding Of the
board in this matter is the following
There can be no question as 10 where the
blame rests in this case.
/ Engineer Ward is clearly guilty of
negligence and conduct wholly regardless
of duty and rules well understood by him
He probably did not know that he was leav
ing his train conductor at Montpelier June
ton, hut he did know that he had no right
to 20 forward on the trunk line without a
written order to that effect from the train
dispatcher at St Adams He knew that
passenger train No. - had the right of the
road and that it had not arrived, though il
was overdue He testities before the board
to all this and SAYS 1T was because
left Montpelier Junction on the time of No
- and it is due 10 the fact that / entirely
forgot about No. 81" His honesty in the
full confession Of his fearful error is com
mendable, but the forgetfulness is without
excuse. The accident was the natural re
suit of needless dsobedience of well under
stood rules, in respect to which forgetful
ness was the grossest negligence
,. His fireman and forward brakeman
were in the engine with him. They are
not blameless. They should have reminded
him of his dangerous blunder. They did
not do SO. The rules of the railroad AL
mitted to be understood by them, inculpate
them rs blameworthy next to the engineer.
This accident came about with fearful dan
ger 10 the lives and limbs of many passen-
gers and trainmen, because men of tried
capacity violated well defined and under
stood rules of duty.
The board takes this occasion To quote
for the consideration of men having the
lives Of the travelling public and their as
sociate employees in their keeping the follow
ing statute law, the enforcement of which
is likely to be recommended to the officers
of the law for future negligence of this
character on the part of train operators
"When an engineer, fireman or other
agent of u railroad corporation is guilty Of
negligence, or careesSness, whereby an in
jury is done To person or corporation, he
shall he punished by imprisonment not more
than one year, or by fine not more than
$1,000. By order Of the Board,
ALFRED h. WATSON Clerk.